Novels have been written about fashionable Bohemian expats eking out an artistic living in Prague or Paris, and plenty of Brits relocate to the warmer climes of Cyprus and Spain. But there are also some sizeable English-speaking expat communities in places one might not expect. Here’s a look at the expat experience in exotic Thailand and in the United Arab Emirates.
Thailand
While “one night in Bangkok makes a hard man crumble”, there’s certainly much more to this Southeast Asian kingdom than its notorious red light district. With friendly people and a low crime rate, Thailand’s English-speaking expat community is growing. Like many Asian nations, Thailand has plenty of work for English speakers who want to teach English – this and its low cost of living, along with its splendid, legendary beaches and wild areas, makes it a popular expat destination. Big cities in Thailand have notoriously bad air quality, but there are many places outside the big cities that are still clean and very liveable.
As far as costs goes, it’s not unreasonable to buy or build a small 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom home for around $30,000. Some people spend that much on a two week luxury vacation. There are also homes for rent, some as low as $200 per month. A high standard of living in Thailand can be achieved in total for about $1,400 per month.
The downsides mentioned by expats living in Thailand include its notorious unstable government, the corruption amongst officials and bureaucrats, and of course for the native English speaker, learning Thai can be a challenge.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE, and in particular the area of Dubai, is as cosmopolitan and sophisticated as international hubs get. Soon host to the world’s tallest building, and currently the largest growing city in the world, Dubai is made up of less than 20% native Arabs; the other 80% of its residents hail from all over the globe. In such an expatriate-based city, it is not necessary (though perhaps still polite) to learn Arabic. However, just because Dubai is international doesn’t mean that basic Islamic etiquette no longer applies. In Dubai, just as in any other foreign land, it is still very important to learn the codes of behaviour and cultural expectations. In the UAE, for example, although it is a more progressive area than some other nations in the Arab world, there are definite expectations that rule interactions between members of the opposite sex. It’s a good idea to learn these unspoken rules before making Dubai home.
The cost of living in Dubai is lower than the cost of living compared to most American, Canadian, and European cities of a similar size. The exchange rate is about four Dirhams to one US dollar, making the dollar stretch nearly four times as far. However, despite the exchange rate, Dubai is still relatively expensive, especially compared to some of the other, more popular expatriate destinations.
Dubai is rich in more ways than one: its oil makes its government prosperous, and its international status makes it a rich cultural hub. The downsides of Dubai, besides the cost, are primarily its complex Islamic-based laws, which many Westerners would not necessarily understand, and might not even be aware that they’re breaking one… until they do.
Related posts:
- Most Common Countries in Which People Teach English For native English speakers who want to travel abroad and...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
{ 0 comments… add one now }